Melodic gong ensembles and male singing with percussion are found throughout Sumatra. Two of each are heard here, including Salawat dulang, the competitive duet singing from West Sumatra that, surprisingly, uses popular songs as a vehicle for commenting on points of Islamic doctrine.

"Documents gong music that has riffs as concise and propulsive as dance tracks."—NYTimes

"Four boogying talempong gong selections from the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra start things off…. Uptempo rhythms and cycling, medium- to high-pitched gong interplay mark the sound. A rice-stalk aerophone with a coconut-leaf bell makes an unearthly sound like a wheezy fiddle. This melodious gong music probably predates all forms of gamelan."—All Music Guide

This "monumental and enjoyable series" (New York Times) documents the music of the Indonesian archipelago, introducing dozens of beautiful and varied musical styles from throughout this complex island nation. Guitars and gamelans, flutes and drums, voices and brass bands contribute to a musical treasure trove that covers the gamut from ancient to popular roots-based urban music. Each hour-long CD is extensively annotated to place the performances in their regional and national contexts.

"Music which could never before have been heard except by those few individuals who took the time and trouble to visit these mostly remote areas and had the good fortune to be able to witness the special occasions on which these pieces were normally performed…. One feels a kind of quiet joy in beholding this 20-disc compilation: first, because so much has been preserved, and second, because 'folk' music in Indonesia seems to be as active, prestigious, and vital a part of local cultures as it ever has been."—Journal of Southeast Asian Studies

The folk music archives that form the wellspring of these Smithsonian recordings are truly incomparable. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they reflect the heart, soul, and backbone of the American experience as well as indigenous music from around the world. Folkways' impeccable sound and documentation does these artists proud, setting their work off as the treasure it is.